💧 Case Study: Turning Around a Troubled Water Project with Lean Practices

🧭 At a Glance

A $2.1M Water and Sanitation (WASH) project in Western Kenya was at risk due to budget overruns, delays, and poor-quality work. With Lean practices and coaching support from Gwendo of SORTAgile, the project was successfully turned around—saving costs, improving quality, and re-engaging communities.
  • ⏱ Latrine construction time cut from 3+ months → 1 month
  • ⛏ Borehole drilling reduced from 6 months → 2 months
  • 💰 $500,000 saved and reinvested in repairs, training, and water access
  • 📈 On-time reporting improved to 90%
  • 🤝 Community contributions delivered in 4 months instead of 8

🚦Stage 1: BEFORE- Fragmented Workflows

  • 💸 13% budget overrun created funding strain
  • ⏳ Delayed activities left Year 2 targets unmet
  • ⚠️ Poor-quality work increased rework and repair costs
  • 📉 Stakeholder confidence was falling as timelines slipped
💬 “Targets were slipping, quality was low, and costs were rising—jeopardizing the entire project.” — COO

🚦Stage 2: DURING -Lean Redesign

Though not yet certified, Gwendo applied Lean Six Sigma tools and guided the team through structured improvements:
  • 🔍 Root cause analysis identified bottlenecks in drilling and latrine quality
  • 📝 Standardized processes and clarified roles for accountability
  • 📊 Introduced weekly reporting and value stream mapping for visibility
  • ⚡ Embedded proactive risk mitigation practices
  • 🤝 Increased community engagement to speed up local contributions
Quick Wins:
  • ✅ Issues identified early, reducing costly rework
  • 👥 Team alignment improved through clear responsibilities
  • 📈 Community trust rebuilt via faster, more transparent progress

📈Stage 3: AFTER – Project On track

  • ⏱ Latrine construction reduced from over 3 months → 1 month
  • ⛏ Borehole drilling cut from 6 months → 2 months
  • 💰 $500,000 saved and reinvested into serving 30% more beneficiaries
  • 📊 On-time reporting climbed to 90%
  • 🤝 Community contributions delivered twice as fast (4 months → 8 months)
💬 “Gwendo is a highly effective manager who excels in driving results across multiple areas. She balances details with the big picture, helping teams cut waste and deliver impact.” — Director of Strategic Priorities & Programs, STFM

The Journey in One Line

📉 Troubled Project ] →
🛠 Lean Redesign →
💧 Faster, Higher-Quality Delivery

✨ Transforming Projects Through Lean Practices

This case shows how Lean practices and coaching can salvage struggling projects—restoring efficiency, reducing costs, and strengthening community outcomes.

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